I know I’m gonna hear the boooooo’s but yes, Pitlick has had a strong season after a slow start. He works very hard. With this said, he doesn’t specialize in very much, if anything.
- SuperSchennBros

I don't think many people would disagree. He's a 4th liner who works hard and chips in some offense from time to time. Not a dime a dozen guy, but also not a "core" piece.

No Vatanen or Hischier tomorrow

No Vatanen or Hischier tomorrow
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Even with Vatanen that D corps is sorry.

I still laugh at people who are surprised Devils are awful this year.

"But PK and Hughes! They're gonna be sick!!1!"

Even with Vatanen that D corps is sorry.

I still laugh at people who are surprised Devils are awful this year.

"But PK and Hughes! They're gonna be sick!!1!"
- GrittySauce

Not to sound arrogant, but during the summer when NYR and NJD were making all these moves, I never once thought either team was going to be good or better than us. Surely they got some big names for the headlines, but the depth issues were still apparent to me.

For the metro I predicted:

WSH
PIT
PHL
CAR
NYI
NYR
NJD
CLB

I think it could be argued he's one of our better skaters.
- arichardson22

Skating isn’t a speciality. Harry Zolnierczyk was a really good skater.

I don't think many people would disagree. He's a 4th liner who works hard and chips in some offense from time to time. Not a dime a dozen guy, but also not a "core" piece.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Nice offseason pick up but I’m not gonna be heartbroken if we allow him to walk in the offseason.

Considering our cap use, and his deployment, if he can be afforded I think he's the perfect bottom 6 wing.

He's a solid skater, a solid forechecker, seems to have a relatively high hockey IQ, and a motor that doesn't quit. My only apprehension would be his being injury-prone.

As for not being a specialist: if all 12 of your forwards are "specialists" in something, you're going to run out of cap real quick.
- GrittySauce

I would like most (not all) but most of my bottom six players to be able to at least kill penalties. You would think that he would be a part of the rotation on the penalty kill.

I would like most (not all) but most of my bottom six players to be able to at least kill penalties. You would think that he would be a part of the rotation on the penalty kill.
- SuperSchennBros

Well when your top 2 PK players are Couturier and Hayes (2C/3C), that limits who in the bottom-6 gets significant PK time.

Well when your top 2 PK players are Couturier and Hayes (2C/3C), that limits who in the bottom-6 gets significant PK time.
- jmatchett383

Couturier and Hayes have nothing to do with why a guy like Pitlick isn’t out there. I’m seeing Laughton out there, Raffl and even Giroux. G should not be out there at all.

I would like most (not all) but most of my bottom six players to be able to at least kill penalties. You would think that he would be a part of the rotation on the penalty kill.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree with jmatchett here.

My takeaway is it's less to do with Pitlick's ability, and more to do with how many great PK guys there are on the team. Maybe with a different head coach we see Pitlick on PK1? Just my 2 cents on that

Not to sound arrogant, but during the summer when NYR and NJD were making all these moves, I never once thought either team was going to be good or better than us. Surely they got some big names for the headlines, but the depth issues were still apparent to me.

For the metro I predicted:

WSH
PIT
PHL
CAR
NYI
NYR
NJD
CLB
- arichardson22

Yea I completely agree with you on that and I'd say our preseason predictions were prettys similar (I'd have swapped NJD and BJs).

Regarding the Rags, I definitely think they're closer to contention than they look. Lots of good youth coming up for them, and it looks like their goalie situation will transition really well too. I think in a year or two they're right back in the mix of top 5 of metro

Not to sound arrogant, but during the summer when NYR and NJD were making all these moves, I never once thought either team was going to be good or better than us. Surely they got some big names for the headlines, but the depth issues were still apparent to me.

For the metro I predicted:

WSH
PIT
PHL
CAR
NYI
NYR
NJD
CLB
- arichardson22

I think the biggest surprise this season with the Metro has been Columbus. Most people, me included, had them around the Rangers and Devils in points. Of course, nobody thought the Devils would be this bad. At no time did I think the Devils were a playoff team though.

I had WSH, CAR, PHI, and PIT making the playoffs.

Not to sound arrogant, but during the summer when NYR and NJD were making all these moves, I never once thought either team was going to be good or better than us. Surely they got some big names for the headlines, but the depth issues were still apparent to me.

For the metro I predicted:

WSH
PIT
PHL
CAR
NYI
NYR
NJD
CLB
- arichardson22

The Devils were my dark horse. I thought they were gonna compete. I thought Simmonds could come back, I thought PK Subban would generate offense from the blueline. I thought Hall bring Hughes along nicely. Now years down the road, Hughes will still be asked what happened between Hall and the Devils. What a bad look for Hall.

I think the Blue Jackets have a bright future. Barzel will only get better with the islanders. I’m not high on the Canes.

Fixed
- SuperSchennBros

😆👍Well played.
Saw that, laughed and thought " (frank)er"!
Going to be best post of the day, for humor.
Patrick practicing is the best post in a long time.

Couturier and Hayes have nothing to do with why a guy like Pitlick isn’t out there. I’m seeing Laughton out there, Raffl and even Giroux. G should not be out there at all.
- SuperSchennBros

You said you want most of your bottom-6 guys out there. The 2 most frequently used PKers (TOI-wise) are Coots and Hayes. Assuming a 6-man rotation, that leaves 4 spots open for 6 players. That means 2 players in the bottom-6 won't be on the PK.

Yea I completely agree with you on that and I'd say our preseason predictions were prettys similar (I'd have swapped NJD and BJs).

Regarding the Rags, I definitely think they're closer to contention than they look. Lots of good youth coming up for them, and it looks like their goalie situation will transition really well too. I think in a year or two they're right back in the mix of top 5 of metro
- GrittySauce

Agree on the Rags and its frustrating to see their rebuild will likely be short. Hopefully by then we are in mix of top 3 and WSH and PIT finally start to decline!

I think the biggest surprise this season with the Metro has been Columbus. Most people, me included, had them around the Rangers and Devils in points. Of course, nobody thought the Devils would be this bad. At no time did I think the Devils were a playoff team though.

I had WSH, CAR, PHI, and PIT making the playoffs.
- NC Flyers Fan

BJs are last years Isles. Hopefully they slow down soon for our sake

BJs are last years Isles. Hopefully they slow down soon for our sake
- arichardson22

I don’t care who else drops out as long as it’s not us. It’s going to be a long sprint!

Agree on the Rags and its frustrating to see their rebuild will likely be short. Hopefully by then we are in mix of top 3 and WSH and PIT finally start to decline!
- arichardson22

Frustrating indeed!
Out of curiosity I looked him (Gorton) up, and he was a rockstar as interim for the Bruins! Funny enough, Chiarelli canned him once he was brought in

You said you want most of your bottom-6 guys out there. The 2 most frequently used PKers (TOI-wise) are Coots and Hayes. Assuming a 6-man rotation, that leaves 4 spots open for 6 players. That means 2 players in the bottom-6 won't be on the PK.
- jmatchett383

Couturier and Hayes are just two players. In fact, they’re centers and Pitlick is a winger, which is why those two have nothing to do with Pitlick.

I’m not even that high on Pitlick but I’m making the argument that, if Pitlick killed penalties, I would already leading the “sign Pitlick” March. The problem for me is, being a good skater, throwing around a couple hits and 7 goals a season isn’t enough. Raffl does all the same things and kills penalties.

Feels totally second fiddle but glad Ghost and Hart are back too...
- NC Flyers Fan

Just sweetens the pot.

Even with Vatanen that D corps is sorry.

I still laugh at people who are surprised Devils are awful this year.

"But PK and Hughes! They're gonna be sick!!1!"
- GrittySauce

People definitely overhyped Hughes. He was never going to be a Crosby or McDavid who were elite during their rookie seasons

PK is a good DMan, better than he has played but PK is overrated. I said all along Weber was the better Dman.

Severson and Butcher are good Dmen. Greene is declining

Hischier has struggled

Simmonds has declined.

Gusev was another 1st year hyped player.

Goaltending has also hurt NJ

They have pieces to be good again. I think I had them 5th in the Metro.

Couturier and Hayes are just two players. In fact, they’re centers and Pitlick is a winger, which is why those two have nothing to do with Pitlick.

I’m not even that high on Pitlick but I’m making the argument that, if Pitlick killed penalties, I would already leading the “sign Pitlick” March. The problem for me is, being a good skater, throwing around a couple hits and 7 goals a season isn’t enough. Raffl does all the same things and kills penalties.
- SuperSchennBros

Was wondering if my eye test was off. I seemed to recall him killing penalties. So I checked. He has more PK time than Rafl in each of the last four games by a fair amount. Has more PK time than Laughton in the last two. I went back four games. He is third or fourth in PK time among forwards in each game. Ahead of Rafl in all four. He certainly does kill penalties.

Couturier and Hayes are just two players. In fact, they’re centers and Pitlick is a winger, which is why those two have nothing to do with Pitlick.

I’m not even that high on Pitlick but I’m making the argument that, if Pitlick killed penalties, I would already leading the “sign Pitlick” March. The problem for me is, being a good skater, throwing around a couple hits and 7 goals a season isn’t enough. Raffl does all the same things and kills penalties.
- SuperSchennBros

Enough for what? He makes a million dollars, that's fine for the 4th line.

Enough for what? He makes a million dollars, that's fine for the 4th line.
- Ftown19125

Plus he spends more time on the PK then Rafl.